Bahrain’s first private medical facility catering to patients requiring post-acute care is expected to provide welcome relief for the country’s overburdened public hospitals.
It is part of the new $20 million Kims Bahrain Hospital, which is due to open in Umm Al Hassam next summer.
The post-acute care centre, which will provide rehab services for patients recovering from a variety of conditions, will be run by European healthcare provider Clinea, in co-ordination with Kims Bahrain Healthcare (KBH) Group.
“We (KBH) offer primary healthcare at our medical centres, secondary and tertiary care at our hospitals and now – with our partnership with Clinea – we are looking to provide rehabilitation care and post-acute care to the people of Bahrain, and in turn expand on our home care as well,” group chief executive Dr Sheriff Sahadulla told the GDN.
“This will really allow us to deliver the full spectrum of healthcare, in which we find there is a void in rehabilitation care.”
He said a need for more rehab facilities had been identified in Bahrain, where such services are still being provided by state hospitals like Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
Dr Sahadulla said the lack of such services in the private sector was adding to the workload of government doctors.
“SMC and other hospitals are kind of plugged up with patients that perhaps don’t need to be in a hospital setting,” he said.
“Unfortunately there is no other setting for them, so they take up a hospital bed.
“That is why we hear stories of long waiting times in emergency rooms at some government facilities.
“I think we can make the whole system a little bit more efficient, take those patients who don’t need an acute (care) bed and allow them to be in a rehabilitation or post-acute (care) bed – or even at home.
“Ideally, our goal for any patient is to try to get them back to the comfort of their own home, which will help unplug the system a little bit. Hence our partnership with Clinea and their expert team from Paris.
“It will serve the people of Bahrain well and even attract patients from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.”
The GDN has repeatedly reported on lengthy delays at SMC’s Accident and Emergency Department, as well as bed shortages at the facility.
At one point in March the unit was operating at more than twice its capacity, with just two consultant doctors on duty.
Dr Sahadulla expects the new post-acute care unit at the upcoming Kims Bahrain Hospital to alleviate some of the pressure, particularly once Bahrain adopts a compulsory health insurance scheme next year.
The country is currently preparing the roll-out of a national health insurance plan for both Bahrains and expats, which is also designed to reduce pressure on public facilities.
As such Dr Sahadulla said the new rehabilitation unit at Kims Bahrain Hospital would cater to all patients, not only those referred by its own doctors.
“At a time when insurance penetration increases, and the mandatory insurance programme is being rolled out fully, there will be nationals and expats accessing private healthcare,” he said.
“The importance in healthcare delivery is really going to be affordability, going forward.
“We need to be able to offer value-based care, quality care at an affordable price.
“The premium market may still be customer-based, but I think it’s the affordable care market where there is a gap – and that is what we are looking to fill.”
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